Digital Camera World » Nikon D800http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:06:28 +0000en-UShourly1Nikon D810 vs D800: is it time to upgrade?http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/06/27/nikon-d810-vs-d800e-is-it-time-to-upgrade/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/06/27/nikon-d810-vs-d800e-is-it-time-to-upgrade/#commentsThu, 26 Jun 2014 23:01:45 +0000http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/?p=553445Few were expecting Nikon to launch the D810. The first question many asked upon hearing the news (after asking about the Nikon D810's price tag, of course) was 'what could be improved'. In this Nikon D810 vs D800 comparison, Rod Lawton, editor of the Nikon magazine N-Photo, explains what's new and what's not in Nikon's latest full-frame DSLR.

]]>Few were expecting Nikon to launch the D810. The first question many asked upon hearing the news (after asking about the Nikon D810’s price tag, of course) was ‘what could be improved’. In this Nikon D810 vs D800 comparison, Rod Lawton, editor of the Nikon magazine N-Photo, explains what’s new and what’s not in Nikon’s latest full-frame DSLR.

The original Nikon D800 set new standards for resolution. Two years later, it still had no obvious rivals – except its twin, the D800E, which ditched the anti-aliasing filter for even sharper detail rendition.

So what could Nikon possibly do with the D810 to top the original? The resolution is (apparently) the same, so is this just a routine update, or is there more to it than that?

Like the D4s, the D810 is aimed at professionals (and well-heeled ‘aspirational amateurs’). The improvements are designed for professional users, and based on feedback from pros, so you can’t expect the same headline-grabbing numbers game you get in the amateur camera market.

Instead, what Nikon has done is introduce a raft of improvements and changes which are interesting enough individually, but taken as a whole produce a camera which is a real and substantial improvement over its predecessor.

Nikon says the new D810 produces ‘the highest image quality in Nikon history’. It goes on sale on July 17 at £2700/$3300, which is what the original D800E sold for.

Here, then, are the key differences…

Nikon D810 vs D800: Sensor

D810: 35.9 x 24mm CMOS, 36.3MP (37.09MP total) D800/E: 35.9 x 24mm CMOS, 36.3MP (36.8MP total)
Nikon says the D810’s sensor is ‘newly developed’. The effective pixel count may be the same, but sensor designs also include the microfilter array and electronic circuitry, so it’s not just about photosites.

Interestingly, the D810’s sensor has slightly more actual pixels, so there are physical differences.

Like the D800E, the D810’s sensor has no anti-aliasing filter. We’ve never heard of anyone complaining about moire with the D800E, but Nikon says the D810 has improved moire control nonetheless.

Nikon D810 vs D800: Processor

D810: Expeed 4 D800: Expeed 3
The newer Expeed 4 processor in the D810 supports the wider ISO range and faster continuous shooting speeds. It also offers new processing algorithms for enhanced clarity, gradation and depth. Top fashion photographer Jon Wright, present at the London launch, told us he could see the difference straight away.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2014/06/27/nikon-d810-vs-d800e-is-it-time-to-upgrade/feed/0Nikon Df vs D610 vs D800: 12 things to know about Nikon’s full frame camerashttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/11/05/nikon-df-vs-d610-vs-d800-12-things-to-know-about-nikons-full-frame-cameras/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/11/05/nikon-df-vs-d610-vs-d800-12-things-to-know-about-nikons-full-frame-cameras/#commentsTue, 05 Nov 2013 11:56:35 +0000http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/?p=550476The Nikon Df, the manufacturer's brand new retro-styled DSLR, recalls the look and feel of classic Nikon film cameras, but how does it stack up against Nikon’s existing full-frame DSLRs? And how much do you pay for this blast from the past? Is it really a serious proposition for the modern digital photographer? There are so many questions, and we try to answer them in our Nikon Df vs D610 vs D800 comparison.

]]>The Nikon Df, the manufacturer’s brand new retro-styled DSLR, recalls the look and feel of classic Nikon film cameras, but how does it stack up against Nikon’s existing full-frame DSLRs? And how much do you pay for this blast from the past? Is it really a serious proposition for the modern digital photographer? There are so many questions, and we try to answer them in our Nikon Df vs D610 vs D800 comparison.

Our resident Nikon guru, Rod Lawton, of our sister title N-Photo, examines all three cameras, looking at their sensor specifications on down to their construction and battery life.

Our Nikon Df vs D610 vs D800 comparison analyses each camera’s key specifications to see where they overlap… and where they don’t.

Nikon Df vs D610 vs D800: 01 Sensor

Nikon has chosen the 16.2-megapixel full-frame sensor from the D4 for the new Df, which seems an odd choice in some ways.

It makes sure that the Nikon Df doesn’t overshadow the performance of the D610 and D800, and it does promise excellent high ISO performance, but the Nikon Df doesn’t provide the high continuous shooting speeds of the Nikon D4, so the relatively low resolution (for a full-frame camera) doesn’t quite bring the benefits of the D4.

We would expect the D610 to produce higher levels of detail, and the D800 will be sharper again.

On the plus side, the Nikon Df should get better shots in low light than either the D610 or the D800, and it’s aimed at photographers who want to recapture the experience of photography rather than just the end result, so megapixels are not necessarily the point.

Besides, from our experience of the Nikon D4, that 16.2-megapixel sensor should deliver pictures of great clarity and quality regardless of the number of pixels.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/11/05/nikon-df-vs-d610-vs-d800-12-things-to-know-about-nikons-full-frame-cameras/feed/1Sony A7R vs Nikon D800: which full-frame camera should you buy?http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/10/18/sony-a7r-vs-nikon-d800-which-full-frame-camera-should-you-buy/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/10/18/sony-a7r-vs-nikon-d800-which-full-frame-camera-should-you-buy/#commentsThu, 17 Oct 2013 23:01:06 +0000http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/?p=550099Looking for a new full-frame camera? The new Sony A7R and Nikon D800 share what is widely believed to be the same 36.3-megapixel sensor, and, in fact, Marcus Hawkins finds their spec sheets match up on a number of levels in his Sony A7R vs Nikon D800 comparison.

]]>Sony A7R vs Nikon D800? It’s an interesting question for photographers. The Sony A7R and Nikon D800 share what is widely believed to be the same 36.3-megapixel sensor, and, in fact, Marcus Hawkins finds their spec sheets match up on a number of levels in his in-depth Sony A7R vs Nikon D800 comparison.

Sony has announced the Sony A7 and Sony A7R, two new full-frame mirrorless compact system cameras. Big on features but small on size and weight, they share the same design, although there are a couple of key differences that set them apart.

The entry-level Sony A7 features a 24.3MP CMOS full frame sensor and an improved Fast Hybrid autofocus system that uses a combination of phase detection (fast) and contrast detection (accurate) autofocus.

Aimed at enthusiasts and professional photographers, the Sony A7R gets an upgraded sensor – a 36.4 effective megapixel full frame sensor which does away with an optical low-pass filter (OLPF) for improved sharpness, at the expense of some moire.

The Sony A7R’s sensor specification comes close to the Nikon D800, or rather the Nikon D800E which also lacks an OLPF. But can the Sony A7R compact system camera really deliver a performance to rival the leading high-megapixel DSLR? Hopefully our Sony A7R vs Nikon D800 comparison will answer some of your questions…

Sony A7R vs Nikon D800 comparison: 01 Sensor resolution

The Sony A7R’s sensor is widely believed to be the same one as in the Nikon D800. The A7R’s sensor is a 35mm full-frame (Exmor) CMOS sensor offering an effective resolution of 36.4 megapixels.

It’s no secret that Nikon has been using Sony-built sensors in its DSLRs, so this is an unsurprising development.

If you don’t need the Sony A7R’s huge 36 million pixel resolution (and huge image file size), then the Sony A7 is a better buy. The Sony A7 features a 24.3 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, but also includes a low-pass filter (to reduce moire).

At the imaging chip level, the Sony A7R and Nikon D800 are essentially equal. Obviously how the signal is processed beyond this has an impact on overall picture quality, and the cameras will produce images with marked differences.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/10/18/sony-a7r-vs-nikon-d800-which-full-frame-camera-should-you-buy/feed/0Strobist portrait: setup your pop-up flash to control another flashgunhttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/10/15/strobist-portrait-setup-your-pop-up-flash-to-control-another-flashgun/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/10/15/strobist-portrait-setup-your-pop-up-flash-to-control-another-flashgun/#commentsTue, 15 Oct 2013 10:37:12 +0000http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/?p=550031On some DSLRs your pop-up flash can control another flashgun. In this tutorial we show you how to make this simple Strobist portrait setup to selectively light your pictures.

]]>On some DSLRs your pop-up flash can control another flashgun. In this tutorial we show you how to make this simple Strobist portrait setup to selectively light your pictures.

Flash is a great way of selectively lighting your pictures, and it is particularly useful for portraits, indoors or out. But for atmospheric strobist-style people shots you to need avoid using the pop-up flash, or a hotshoe-mounted gun. Instead, get the flash off-camera and achieve a moody, sidelit effect.

So how do you fire your flash if it is not directly connected to the hotshoe? You could invest in a flash synch cord, or in a radio trigger. But with some cameras, like the Nikon D800 we used for this tutorial, there is a less expensive way to do this – by using your pop-up flash to control and trigger the bigger flashgun.

With our D800 we can employ a simple Strobist portrait setup and let our pop-up flash control another flashgun by setting the camera to its Commander mode. Our D800’s built-in flash then sends a series of signals to the remote flashgun just before the exposure, to fire it and to control its power.

Not every Nikon DSLR or flashgun will allow you to use Nikon’s Advanced Wireless Lighting (AWL) System. You need a D70 or above with a built-in pop-up flash (that’s the D90, D600, D800, D7000, D7100 and D300s in Nikon’s current range), which rules out models such as the D3100 or D4.

You also need a flashgun that offers a CLS remote control mode – SB-600, SB-800, SB-900 or SB-910 (some other flash manufacturers make compatible guns too).

Finally, while we used a Nikon D800 for the purposes of this tutorial, other camera brands offer equivalent functions. Or you can buy a slave unit.

Our Strobist portrait setup step-by-step: 1-2

01 Switch your flash to Remote
Set your flashgun to its Remote control mode. On an SB-700, SB-900 or SB-910 you simply turn the main on/off switch to Remote. Two red LEDs pulsating at the front of the gun show you that the flash is set to remote operation. On older guns like the SB600 the set-up is more complex…

02 Setting up older Speedlights
On an SB-600, hold the Zoom and Minus buttons down until the menu options appear. Press the Plus button until the Remote option (the one with the squiggly line) is displayed, then press the Mode button to turn it from Off to On. Hold in the Zoom and Minus buttons again to activate.

]]>Both Nikon cameras are built for professionals, but the cheaper D800 has more megapixels. Find out what’s going on in our Nikon D4 vs D800 comparison.

To start, in the infographic above, we’ve made a quick Nikon D4 vs D800 comparison of key specifications. Click on the graphic to see the larger version.

Nikon D4 vs D800: key differences

01 Both cameras have strong, metal alloy bodies with extensive weather sealing, but the D4 is bigger and heavier than the D800, and incorporates a higher-capacity battery in a taller body.

02 The D4’s taller body has a built-in vertical release and command dials built in for extended periods of vertical shooting, such as a fashion shoot; with the D800 you need to buy a separate grip to get this (£295/$370).

03 Both cameras have dual card slots, but where the D800 offers CompactFlash and SD support, the D4 goes with CompactFlash and the new, high-performance XQD card format.

04 The difference in buffer capacities is striking. The D800 can shoot no more than 17 best-quality NEF files in a row before its buffer is filled up, but the D4 can shoot 75.

05 It’s difficult to make predictions about durability, since all photographers use their cameras in different ways, but the D4 has a quoted shutter life of 400,000 cycles versus 200,000 for the D800.

One of the key topics of conversation about the new camera has been its class-leading effective pixel count of 36.3 million – perhaps proving that the pixel race is not over, and that numbers still really grab the headlines.

Could such a high pixel count be the D800's undoing though? Until recently Nikon's mantra had been that 12-million pixels is enough if the images are clean, and Nikon has a strong reputation for its cameras' low-light performance and noise control. Could 36-million pixels be a step too far, too soon?

The excitement surrounding the announcement of the full frame Nikon D800 has been unprecedented.

One of the key topics of conversation about the new camera has been its class-leading effective pixel count of 36.3 million – perhaps proving that the pixel race is not over, and that numbers still really grab the headlines.

Could such a high pixel count be the D800’s undoing though? Until recently Nikon’s mantra had been that 12-million pixels is enough if the images are clean, and Nikon has a strong reputation for its cameras’ low-light performance and noise control. Could 36-million pixels be a step too far, too soon?

Features
Although it has a more densely populated sensor, the 36.3Mp D800 utilises many of the new features of the previously announced 16.2Mp D4 in a smaller body and at a cheaper price.

These include the same EXPEED 3 processor, the same Multi-Cam 3500 FX autofocus system, which offers 51 autofocus points and the same 91k-pixel metering system.

It’s also capable of focusing right down to -2 EV, which coupled with its ability to shoot at up to ISO 25,600 (at the Hi 2 setting), should make the Nikon D800 a promising camera for low-light shooting (read the 12 common errors of night photography – and how to fix them) if image noise is at an acceptable level.

Given its effective pixel count, it’s not really a surprise that the Nikon D800 has a lower maximum continuous shooting rate than the D700; but at 4fps (the D700 can manage 5fps) at full resolution with the standard battery and 5fps (D700 8fps) with a battery grip it’s no slouch.

As with the D4, the D800’s central 11 AF points are capable of functioning at f/8. This means that the AF system will still function when teleconverters are used to extend the reach of telephoto lenses.

This is great news for wildlife photographer who want to avoid the expense and burden of carrying a selection long and heavy optics (read more: DO or Di? Your lens markings explained). For instance, a 200-400mm f/4 fitted with a 2x teleconverter effectively becomes a 400-800mm f/8, and unlike with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, the D800’s autofocus system will still function.

The Nikon D700 doesn’t feature a video mode, but the D800 brings full HD functionality. It can record 1080p video at 30, 25 and 24fps frame rates, along with 60 and 50fps rates at 720p for shooting slow-motion movies.

In another upgrade over the D700, the D800 features dual memory card slots. Unlike the D4, the D800 makes use of existing memory card formats, namely Compact Flash and SD/SDHC/SDXC. The decision to include two formats might prove frustrating for some pros, who will now have to carry two different sets of cards.

The shutter has been tested to around 200,000 cycles, while the battery life has been reduced from the D700 to around 850 shots at CIPA standard. While the D700 was capable of around 1,000 shots, the new battery has been made to comply with a new Japanese electronics law, hence the reduction in shot output.

Since the measured battery life (850 shots) includes the use of flash, it’s likely that the battery has the potential to last even longer, depending on the situation.

It’s worth noting here that the D800, like the D700 has a built-in pop-up flash unit (GN 12m @ ISO 100) which is useful for providing fill-in light and triggering external lights wirelessly. The Canon 5D Mark III doesn’t have a flash built-in.

The Nikon D800 is available in two versions: a ‘standard’ body, plus a special edition, called the D800E. The latter has a modified filter over the sensor that has no anti-aliasing qualities and comes with an extra £300 premium as a result.

Removing the anti-aliasing filter allows for a potentially greater amount of detail to be resolved and comes at the price of increasing the chances of false colour or moiré patterning, which may require some extra post-capture processing.

Fortunately, this type of interference is relatively straightforward to remove in photo-editing software packages, such as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4. Nikon’s own Capture NX2 can also be used to reduce or remove the effect, and will come bundled with the D800E.

The Nikon D800 Verdict

Our testing team put the Nikon D800 through its paces, which you can read about in the full Nikon D800 review over on our sister site, TechRadar. If you want some of the key points from the full test and the final verdict on the Nikon D800, here is what our head of testing had to say:

On Build & Handling
“In terms of size, shape and weight, the differences between the D800 and D700 are subtle. It’s 10% lighter than the D700 and the body has a more ‘contoured’ look and feel. Like the Nikon D4, the shutter release has been slightly repositioned for better ergonomics, while a number of the controls have been tweaked…

“Anyone familiar with Nikon SLRs, especially the D700, or D3 S/X professional series, will be at ease with the menu and operation of the camera. There are no major changes other than the addition of video recording options and the change to the D7000-style focus mode switch and button.

“While the AF system is advanced and there are lots of AF-point selection modes available when shooting continuously, the options are made very clear in the viewfinder and in the top-plate LCD, so it’s easy to select the one you want. However, it’s about time that the AF points were spread a bit further across the frame and not clustered within the DX crop area.”

On Performance
“Our tests reveal that the Nikon D800 is capable of resolving a huge amount of detail, in fact it’s not far behind the medium-format Pentax 645D, which has a 40Mp sensor that measures 44x33mm. This is an impressive feat, as although it’s full-frame, the D800’s sensor is considerably smaller at 35.9x24mm…

“Nikon isn’t new to producing DSLRs, and the D800 uses the company’s know-how to ensure that white balance and colour are good straight from the camera in most situations.”

“JPEG images from the Nikon D800 have a signal to noise ratio that compares well against, but cannot quite match, that from the Nikon D4 and Canon EOS 5D Mark III. At lower sensitivities results compare closely to Nikon D700, however from a sensitivity of ISO 800 there is a definite improvement.

“TIFF images (after conversion from raw) show that the D800 handles noise well at lower sensitivities and the results compare well against the Nikon D4. Above ISO 3200 noise becomes more of an issue.

“The Nikon D800’s JPEG files have a high dynamic range only just beaten by the Nikon D4. Compared to the Nikon D700, the results show a big improvement across the sensitivity range. At ISO 3200 the Canon EOS 5D Mk III just over takes the dynamic range of the D800.

“The D800’s TIFF files (after conversion from raw) score some of the highest dynamic range results that we’ve seen from a DSLR, just beating the Nikon D4 and showing a huge improvement over the Nikon D700. At the lower end of the sensitivity scale, the D800 is the clear leader, but by ISO 800 the Canon EOS 5D Mark III takes the lead.”

FinalVerdict

It’s great to find that the D800 isn’t just a triumph of numbers, and that the 35.3Mp sensor actually delivers on its promise – capturing bags of detail. The surprise bonus is that noise is actually pretty well controlled and the dynamic range is very impressive.

For those interested in stepping up to a full-frame camera, the D800 represents a good investment. You get pretty much all of the best features of the D4 in a more compact and lighter body, with a much higher pixel count for just shy of half of the price.

Many see the Canon EOS 5D Mark III as the D800’s natural competitor. While the average serious enthusiast is likely to think long and hard about switching manufacturer, professional photographers are less loyal and will go with whichever option works best for them.

The Nikon D800 will be very attractive to photographers who need a comparatively light camera that is capable of capturing a lot of detail and producing large prints.

As it is an especially good choice for those who shoot in normal or daylight conditions or at low sensitivities, we think the D800, or perhaps the D800E, will be a big hit with landscape and studio photographers.

Meanwhile the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is perhaps a bit of an all-rounder that will appeal to enthusiast photographers who want to shoot a range of subjects in lots of different conditions.

Given the level of detail that the D800 can capture and its impressive dynamic range there may be a few studio and landscape photographers who will choose it instead of a bulkier, heavier, slower and more expensive medium format camera.

It’s clear that the D800 is an excellent and very capable camera. The metering, white balance and autofocus systems all deliver the goods and the image quality is superb at the lower sensitivity settings.

While we’d love to see a couple of niceties such as the rating option and more flexible HDR system found on the Canon 5D Mark III, we find Nikon’s AF point selection options clearer in continuous AF mode.

Although the D800 can’t quite match some of its competitors for signal to noise ratio at the lower sensitivity settings, it comes close and the much larger images have an impressive dynamic range.

Nikon has managed to produce a camera that delivers exactly what many enthusiast and pro photographers want.

We liked
Many images are suitable for making superb A2 pints straight from the camera or with a minimal amount of adjustment.

We disliked
Sport and action photographers will find that the large file size limits the continuous shooting rate and burst depth in comparison with the Canon 5D Mark III and Nikon D4.

The Nikon announcement states: "Due to a local internal systems error,the incorrect RRPs on the D800, D800E and D4 products were communicated in the UK and Irish markets at the time of the announcement."

Nikon has revised the D4 and D800 price tags up to £5289.99 and £2,599.99, respectively, the manufacturer has announced.

The Nikon announcement states: “Due to a local internal systems error,the incorrect RRPs on the D800, D800E and D4 products were communicated in the UK and Irish markets at the time of the announcement.”

The increase means the Nikon D4 price will be nearly £500 more expensive than the previously reported £4799.99 figure. The Nikon D800 price tag is now £200 higher than previously announced.

Nikon says it apologises for the mistake and that it will honour the original prices on all customer pre-orders placed before 24 March 2012.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/03/26/nikon-revises-d4-d800-price-tags/feed/0Sony: Nikon D800 ‘pushes the boundaries’http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/03/15/sony-nikon-d800-pushes-the-boundaries/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/03/15/sony-nikon-d800-pushes-the-boundaries/#commentsThu, 15 Mar 2012 16:38:26 +0000http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/?p=535829A spokesperson for Sony UK has said that the newly released Nikon D800, which features a 36 million pixel full-frame sensor, isn't a competitor for its own Sony Alpha 900, and that the D800 'pushes the boundaries.'

]]>A spokesperson for Sony UK has said that the newly released Nikon D800, which features a 36 million pixel full-frame sensor, isn’t a competitor for its own Sony Alpha 900, and that the D800 ‘pushes the boundaries.’

Speaking to our sister website TechRadar, Paul Genge from Sony UK said, “[It] sounds like a good idea to me, the user of that type of camera only ever seeks higher resolution for stills.

“I think when it comes to the market and when people are using it, people will be impressed by the increased resolution, of course on a full-frame sensor you’ve got room to provide for it so, all credit to them, they’ve chosen to keep pushing the boundaries.”

Of course, it is widely believed that it is Sony that produces the sensors for the D800, Nikon confirmed to us that it was working in partnership with another manufacturer for the sensor.

“It’s a good thing,” Genge continued, “36 megapixels will be improved upon in years to come still. We were the world’s highest with 24 megapixels until this point, and we’ve held on to that since 2009.

“I think Nikon will do quite well with it, certainly their customer base can adopt it, use it and get the best of it, but we’ll have to see when it comes to market what their customer truly thinks of it.”

Genge added that the camera doesn’t compete with any of Sony’s products. “Alpha 900 is a very different camera altogether, it’s very conservative in its offering, it doesn’t have Live View and it doesn’t do video. It’s a different proposition altogether.”

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/03/15/sony-nikon-d800-pushes-the-boundaries/feed/0Nikon to produce 30,000 D800 cameras per monthhttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/02/15/nikon-to-produce-30000-d800-cameras-per-month/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/02/15/nikon-to-produce-30000-d800-cameras-per-month/#commentsWed, 15 Feb 2012 15:05:23 +0000http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/?p=535015Nikon will produce 30,000 units per month of its newly announced Nikon D800 in order to meed demand, according to a report.

A story on the Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, claims that the manufacturer will produce the 30,000 Nikon D800 units at its Sendai factory in Japan.

Nikon will produce 30,000 units per month of its newly announced Nikon D800 in order to meet demand, according to a report.

A story on the Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, claims that the manufacturer will produce the 30,000 Nikon D800 units at its Sendai factory in Japan.

The report also claims that Nikon hopes to produce 5,000 Nikon D4 units every month.

The report stems from several Asian journalists who visited the Sendai factory, where Nikon President Jiro Saito told them the company had spent US$100 million repairing the factory after the devastating earthquake of March last year.

Nikon’s Sendai factory employees around 1,600 workers and boasts the ability of producing one camera per minute during the plant’s daytime shift.

According to the report, a Nikon D800 can be produced in around four hours, while the D4 takes five.

Nikon ended the long wait, unveiling its new 36.3-megapixel FX-format professional Nikon D800, which it claims ‘delivers unprecedented levels of depth and detail’ and allows users to shoot broadcast quality video.

]]>After many months of rumours and speculation, the Nikon D800 DSLR is finally a reality.

Nikon ended the long wait, unveiling its new 36.3-megapixel FX-format professional Nikon D800, which it claims ‘delivers unprecedented levels of depth and detail’ and allows users to shoot broadcast quality video.

What’s more, Nikon claims the Nikon D800 is not a successor to its popular full frame DSLR, the Nikon D700, but instead offers a potential to rival medium format cameras.

The Nikon D800, price slated to be £2399.99, will be available from 12 April, its UK release date.

Chris George, editor of our sister magazine, N-Photo, was invited to have a hands-on with the new Nikon DSLR prior to the announcement of the Nikon D800 release date. Watch our video below to see his first impressions. Or continue to read more about the Nikon D800 specs as this story continues after the video.

The Nikon D800’s 36.3-megapixel FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor offers photographers what Nikon claims are unprecedented levels of detail and tonal range. To this end the new Nikon camera boasts 12-channel readout with 14-bit A/D conversion and high signal-to-noise ratio, along with an ISO range of 100–6400, which is extendable up to 25600 (equivalent) and down to 50 (equivalent).

The Nikon D800 also comes equipped with the manufacturer’s next-generation EXPEED 3 image-processing engine, offering 16-bit image processing that Nikon says can deliver smooth gradations with abundant detail and tone all the way up the scale to pure white, even when shooting in JPEG.

Nikon also claims the D800 can meet professional demands for video, shooting full HD (1080p) movies in frame rates of 30p, 25p and 24p, with 60p, 50p and 25p options at 720p. Movie clips can be up to 29:59 minutes long. As with the recent Nikon D4, full HD recording is possible in both FX and DX based formats.

The D800 also features an external stereo microphone input for video and audio recording, as well as an audio out for external headphones so you can fine tune audio in isolation both before and during movie recording. A line input setting for PCM linear recorders is also provided.

For a great example of what the Nikon D800 is capable of in terms of video recording, the video below – Joy Ride, directed by Sandro – depicts a man travelling across Chicago on his motorcycle to attend the birth of his child. The short film was shot on a Nikon D800.

Finally, the Nikon D800 offers an uncompressed HDMI output for those who need the purest video output for professional quality editing. The D800 lets users output the uncompressed live view to external recorders and monitors. As with the Nikon D4, this data is output at the designated image size and frame rate, and is clean of the information overlay that can be simultaneously displayed on the camera’s TFT monitor.

Also on board the D800 is an Advanced Scene Recognition System with a new 91,000-pixel RGB sensor that analyses scenes. This detailed scene analysis is also utilised to support more accurate autofocus, auto exposure and i-TTL flash exposure results in a diverse range of compositional and lighting situations.

On the new Nikon DSLR the autofocus sensor module and algorithms have been re-engineered to improve low light acquisition sensitivity capabilities down to -2 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F). The overall performance is similar to the Nikon D4, the company says.

Nikon is also promising fast start-up times of just 0.12 seconds on the D800, while release time lag is minimized to approx. 0.042 seconds, with continuous approx. 4 fps capability in FX-format and crop modes, pushed to approx. 6 fps capability in DX-format Crop mode with the optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D12.

The D800’s glass prism optical viewfinder offers approximately 100% frame coverage and 0.7x magnification (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0m-1). Nikon is also launching a special edition of the D800 – the Nikon D800E, which comes with a modified optical filter.

Nikon claims the D800’s shutter unit has been tested to well over 200,000 cycles of release. For more details on this new Nikon DSLR, check out the Nikon D800 hands-on review on our sister website, TechRadar.